Brush-comb



July 5, 1932. l..l HERNoN l BRUSH-coma Filed March 2,' 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l wumumluuu IIIIIIII.

ffl Y `luly 5, 1932. L. HERNONl 1,866,210

` BRUSH-00MB Filed March 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y@ f @5 @y Patented JulyV 5, 1932 UNITED s'rATEs PATENI OFFICE IoN man1-VON, oF cmcpAGo, ILLINOIS BRUSH-COME Applicationmed ua-rch 2,' 1931. serial no. 519,485.

tending across the width of the tooth in a line generally parallel to the line of motion of the tooth through the hair. These bristles only project a comparative]I short distance below the ends of the com teeth. In the preferred construction, the ends ofthe comb teeth are formed with cavities or recesses therein, elongated in the direction of thevvidth of the tooth, and the bristles ex-` 20 tend up into these cavities and arev anchored at their upger ends in the top portions of the cavities. y this mounting of the bristles in said cavities only a comparatively short portionbf each bristle maybe arranged to 2 project beyond the end of the tooth but at' the same time each bristle is` of sufficientl length so that it may flex with sufficient freedom in moving across the scalp= to prevent irritation or injury to the scalp. It Will be evident that in this type of device the comb teeth function as guardsor shields for the bristles, whereby the bristles are primarily active on the scalp ra-ther than on the hair.

One of the principal objects of thekinventionis to provide a device of this general description which will invigorate the scalp Without disturbing the Wave 'in a Womans hair. Thefrequent and vi orous use of a hair brush is recommended y all hair and 'scalp authorities as being particularly beneficial to the hair and scalp becausel the brush bristles invigorate the scalp, effect a distribution of the natural oil over 4the scalp, remove layers of old scalp, and have a cleansing action ridding the scalp of accumulations of dirt, etc. Howeven'the use of the ordinaryhair'brush disturbs any artificial Wave in the hair, and tends to take the wave out of the hair. With the Wide prevalence of Marcel Waving and finger Waving, WomenV aresrefusing to brush their hair, notwithstanding the known benefits of a brush on the scalp. Even with a permanent Wave, it is necessary to have'the wave set frequently, and the use of the ordinary brush disturbs this setting. As a consequence, women are now experiencing hairand scalp difficulties much more so than when frequent brushing yvas more prevalent. While it is ractically lmpossible to use the ordinary air brush Without disturbing a Marcel Wave or finger Wave, yet on the other hand a comb can be used with practically no disturbing effects,

and in fact a comb is always used to set the wave.

The use of the present brush-comb 'ves all of the beneficial advantages of brus ing but does not disturb the wave in the hair.

This follows from thefact that the bristles are almost completely enclosed in the ends of the comb 'teeth and hence do not catch strands of hair and pull them out of place. The comb teeth enter the hair and part the strands in practically the same way as an ordina comb, thereby allowing the bristles to reac through the hair and engage the scalp di- `rectly, but Without permitting the bristles to catch strands of the hair and pull them out of place.

Entirely aside from any question of dis turbing a Wave, another important object of the invention is to provide a device which will have a more direct and beneficial action on the scalp and roots of the hair 4than the ordinary hair brush. In the use of the ordinary hair brush on a moderately thick head of hair only a comparatively small proportion -of the bristles actually reach the scalp, the other bristles moving over the surface of the hair or extending down into the hair but not actually contacting with the sca-lp.` If the bristles are very pliable a smaller roportion will reach the scalp, and if the ristles are made relatively stiff vto counteract this d the bristles which do reach the scalp Will have an irritating action thereon.

In the present device the comb teeth part the hair and thereby bring the brush bristles and removing layers of o d scalp is made more uniform.

Another object of the invention is to promoulpting the bristles in the ends of the comb teet- Another object is to supplement the bristles inthe ends of the comb teeth vby additional bristles disposed between the comb teeth, when the latter bristles are desired for brushing the surface of the hair. These ad-o ditional bristles are confined entirely to the spaces between the comb teeth, the latter then functioning as guards or shields for preventing these bristles from disturbing the wave. In one embodiment these'supplementary bristles extend downwardly in the tobth spaces substantially parallel to the comb teeth, but preferably terminating short of the ends of said teeth, and in another embodiment these bristles extend substantially transversely ,of the teeth.

Another object is to provide a brush-comb having bristles in the ends of the comb teeth, 4characterized by a particular shaping'of the comb teeth whereby they have an .improved action in of hair. l

Another object is to provide a construction permitting ready cleaning of the bristles i mounted in the'ends of the comb teeth.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.'

In the accompanying drawings illustratingthis embodiment: l ,A Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of brush-'comb embodying my invention; v f

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on an enlargedv scalehtaken approximately -on the plane of the line 2- -2 of F1 rel through one of the s aces between tidcomb teeth which carry ristles;

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view taken approximately through-one of these teeth. as indiclated by the section plane 3-3 of Figure Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view on the same enlarged scale as Figures 2 and 3, showing part' of the device in longitudinal section and part'in elevation Figure 5 illustrates a modified method of' and means for-mounting the bristles in the ends of the teeth; A

Fi re 6' is.a transverse sectional view showing another modified method of mountinthe bristles; i

igure ,7 is a transverse sectional view and Figure 8 is a longitudinal'sectional view on a still lar er scale, both illustrating another method o mounting the bristles;

-Flgm 9 is a fagmeraarrviewsimaartq vide improved methods of and means for,

parting or separating the strands Figure 8 showing a variation of the latter method;l

Figure 10 is a fragmentary transverse section showing a construction wherein the lower portion of each tooth -issplit transversely for mounting the bristles, v

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate in longitudinal section two steps of mounting the bristles by forcingbristle containing clips up into the ends of the comb teeth;

Figures 13 and 14 are transversesectional views illustrating in assembled and disassembled relation a modified construction wherein the device is split longitudinally into separate halves;

Figure 15 vis a horizontal sectional view taken ap roximately on the plane of the line 15-15 oi) Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a transverse sectional view of a modified construction and Figure 17 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 17-17 thereof; and c v l Figure 18 is an elevational view of a cleaning brush'for the brush-comb.' l

Referringto Fi ures 1-4, the device ispreferably constructe along the' general lines and form of a conventional comb, comprlsing a` back 20 from which exten/ds a row of comb teeth 21. .The bristlesprojecting from the ends of the comb teeth are indicated at 22. If-de'sired, the entire length of the comb may be. devoted to the y teeth 21 .carrying thebris'- tles 22, or,--as shown in Figure 1, one end of the comb may have tliese teeth and the other '10,0,

end of the comb may have conventional comb teeth 28, which may be either coarse or fine. The bristle bearing teeth 21'mayalso be either coarse or fine, and of any desired length. The body of the .device'includingthe back 20 and teeth 21 and 2 3 may be composedof any suitable material, such as rubber, micarta, bakelite, vulcanite ory metal.v The ends may be provided with the conventional end bars24 or protecting the comb teeth. Referring to Figures 2 and- 3,. when it is desired to have each tooth carry a considerable number of bristles the lower end pf the tooth can be made slightly Wider than the ordinary comb tooth. However, when using a smaller number of bristles each tooth can be made comparatively narrow, approximating the width of a conventional comb tooth. Preferably the side edges of the teeth vcurve 4 inwardly., as indicated at 25, andthen flare outwardly to form theslopinglower edges 26, such being desirable'in the wider widths of comb teeth. The sloped edges -26 are'advantaeo'usfor parting the'str'ands of hair and deectingthem upwardly so that they pass between the comb teeth instead of being presseddown under the ends of theteeth. The ends of the teeth'may be cut straight across, or might have a convex curvature, although in the'preferred form I formthese ends with a concave curvature, as-indicated at 27, which enables each vtooth to conform more closely to the shape of the head in moving through the hair, thereby reducing the possibility of any appreciable amount of the hairbeconiing caught or ensnarled .with the bristles 22.

rlhe bristles are preferably set in a cavity 2'8 formed in the lower end of each bristle bearing tooth.l As previously remarked, the

advantageof this is that even with only a` vcomparatively sliort length` of bristle extending beyond the end of the tooth the bristles still have suilicieiitgflexing lengthl so that in moving over the scalp they can flex freely to avoid irritating the scalp and to revent breaking or permanent bending oft ie bristles, -While this is the )referred arrangement it will be understoo that lthe invention broadly contemplates the mounting `ott the bristles in the solid end of a comb tooth with no cavity provided forgiving a greater flexv ing length to the bristles. `Where' the cavities 28 are en'iployed they may be cored out in the molding of the device or they may be cut in the ends of the teeth by a suitable gangl arrangement otcutting devices.

In Figure 3 I'have illustrated the upper ends of the bristles as being set in a material 31. Thismay represent a rubber cement or any suitable adhesive poured or inserted into the ends of thelcavities 28; or, it may represent a clip or insert composed of rubber or any other suitable material in which the bristles are first anchored, this clip being'then inserted up into the endof the cavity and being cemented or vulcanized in the tooth.

If it-i's desired to'have a brushing action effective on the strands of hair as they pass between the comb teeth 21 I may provide supplementary bristles 33 mounted in the spaces between the comb teeth, as shown in Figures 2 and .4. The latter bristles, which are preferably more -pliable than the bristles -22, are arranged in bunches and are anchored to the back bar 20 of the device. I have shown the bristles as entering the tapered sockets'll in the back 20, such being preferred when it is desired that the bristles'.

have a pronounced side flare at their lower ends, and the bristles may be anchored in these sockets by a wiie 35 threading therethrough, or the bristleslinay be ceni'ented in place. When the bristles are wired in place a groiive 36. is provided along the back ei'lge of theI bar portion 20 for receiving such wire,

t this groove being afterwards closed over by a filling or insert vulcanized in the groove.

The bristles 33 preferably terminate short of the lower ends of the comb teeth 2l, and because these bristles are closely confined on each side by the teeth and do not project beyond thefront and rear4 edges of the teeth they do not .disturb thc wave in the hair,

the comb teeth functioning as guides or shields for these bristles so that they merely Walls 2l' of each tooth on the outer side of the cavity 28 will generally be siilliciently ieXible to permit these walls being pressed together for vulcanizing overthe upper ends of the bristles; although, if it is desired tol have additional flexibility, each tooth may beslotted completely through li-oni one edge to the other upto substantially the upper end ofthe cavity, as indicated by the slot 39 inl Figure 10, in which case atte-r the bristles havev been vulcanized between the coinpressed iipper. portions of the cavity the outer edges of the slot are closed by vulcanizing together down along the sloping edges 26. The sets of teeth may be treated alter'- nately to afford sufficient room between the teeth for the members 3S. If desired, a filling of vulcaiiizin g rubber 41 may be disposed in the upperend of each cavity. the operation of securing the bristles in During placethe bristles maybe held in a suitable .1 n clamp or mounting pg 42 so as to maintain the bristles in their proper spaced relation until the are securely anchored, 'llie lower 'ends of t e bristles may then be cut to have the proper length' projecting from the lower f vends of the comb teeth. As previously re- 'marked, only comparatively short lengths' of the bristles'project beyond the teeth. lhc lower portion of the cavity 2S in each tooth is made' just a trifle wider than the thickness ofthe bristles so that the bristles can flex freely in the cavity.

In Figure 6 I have shown the bristles as being preliminarily mounted in a mounting clip 45 which-is then inserted up into the cavity and is suitably secured therein. Asl n illustrative of. one method of securing the clip, a Wire 35' may bc passed through an aperture in the clip or otherwise secured thereto, this wire passing through a bore 4,6 in the tooth and being used to pull the clip up into place. The wire securing means 35 for all of the clips 45 may then be anchored in the groove 36 extending along the top of the back bar 20, and where the supplementary bristles 33 aire employed this wire securing means may constitute a part of the same securing means .which fastens these supple mentai-y bristles in place.

Figures 7,8 and 9 illustrateI other methods of mounting the bristles by the use ot clips. According to the arrangement illus trated in Figure 8, the comb teeth are pro vided with transverse openings 28a somewhatsimilar to the recesses or cavities 28, but extendin entirely through the tooth. The lower en sof these openings are defined by the solid bar portions 48 extending across the bottom of the tooth, one on each side of the slotted opening 281) through which the bristles extend. In this form the bristles are mounted in clips 49 composed o f rubber or the like, .which clips are of substantially the same thickness as the comb teeth. As shown 'at the left in Figure 8 these clips, with the bristles mounted therein, are passed up into` the spaces between the comb teeth and are then moved downwardlyto insert the bristles down through the slot 28?),v the clip then being moved sidewise into the upper end of the opening 28a. Thereupon the clips are secured in the upper ends of said openings by cemen'ting or vulcanizing the same around the upper and side peripheral edges 49 of the clip. rl`he lower transverse edge ofthe clip terminates short of the bottom cross bars 48 of the tooth, thereby leaving openings 51 in the comb teeth extending entirely through each tooth so as to enable access to be had-to the upper portions of the bristles for washnkg and cleaning the same with a brush or the V:trated in Figure 8, with the exception thatA the upper portion of the transverse opening does not extend entirely through the tooth, and the clip 49a is only made suiiicent-ly thick to fit in this opening. That is to say,

the upper portion ofthe opening, designated 280, is merely a recess in the side of the tooth, and the clip 49a carrying the bristles is made of `iust suicient thickness to fill in this recess, being then cemented or vulcanized in place. In such arrangement, the lower cleaning ope-ning 5l may be provided on onlyv one side ofthe tooth, or may extend entirely therethrough. If desired, the side edges of the teeth may also be provided with slots 52 coextensive with the side openings. 51, as shown in Figure 7, to facilitate cleaning the teeth bristles from the edges of the teeth.r These cleaning openings 51 or 52 or both may be embodied in any of the forms herein disclosed. Also, these edge slots 52 ma be made of suiicient height to permit the bristle carrying clip to be pushed into the tooth l from its edge through one of these slots.y

The invention contemplates the provision of short bristles extending transversely into the space betweenthe comb teeth. For example, the clips 49 and 49a of Figures 8 and y9 may have a multitude of, bristles imbedded therein with the ends of the bristles projecting laterally from the side face of the clip, as indicated at 53. y The projecting ends of evident that these bristles will engage above and below the strands of hair for thoroughly brushing and cleaning the latter. If desired,

these lateral or transverse supplementary l bristles .53 may be arranged up along the entire side wall of the tooth, on one or lboth sides thereof, up to approximately the back bar portion 20, by either making the mounting clip of yappropriate length o`r by suitably securing said bristles in the body portion of each comb tooth above said clip. These transverse supplementary bristles 53 may be embodied in any of the other forms described herein. In mounting the transverse bristles 53 in the clips or in the body portion of the tooth, their anchorage may be 'made more secure by forminga sharp kink or right angle bend in the end of the bristle and then embedding this bent end in the clip or tooth, and this same practice may also be followed in mounting the tooth bristles 221 in the clips, or'when vulcanizing or cementing these latter'bristles in the comb teeth.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a modified arrangement and method wherein the bristle bearing clip 55' is forced up into the comb tooth from the lower end thereof and is caused to lock in place in a transverse opening 56 in the tooth. The lower edge of said oil-)ening forms shoulders 57 for locking the clip against displacement. Where the comb teeth are sufficiently v-flexible the sides of the cavity 28 may be sprung apart suiliciently to enable the clip 55 to be forced through t-he cavity up into the transverse opening 56. As an alternative measure, the .tooth may be slitted transversely from side `to side, as indicated at 39 in Figure 10, so' as to enable Athe side walls of the tooth to separate more .readily when the clip is being pushed up into place, and thereafter the edges of the tooth may be vulcanized or-otherwise secured together along the edges of the slit. When the' elip` is in place the engagement of the, `bottom shoulder thereof with the shoulder 57 of the transverse opening anchors the clip against displacecment. In Figure l2 I havejillustrated in dotted lines how such a clip may be first placed between the teeth and then moved downwardly to insert its bristles -downthrough the cavity 28, the clip being finally snapped sidewise ilito the transversfelopening 56. The latter method does not necessitate any spreading or slitvting of the lower ends of the teeth.

In Figures 13-17 I have illustrated constructions wherein the device -is made up of two longitudinally split halves which are joined together to complete the unit.' .In

' l each of these two constructions, the back bar is split into two longitudinally extending sections 20a and 201) extending throughout the length of the device, or through that length carrying the brush-comb teeth. In the construction shown in Figures 13-15, each brush-.comb tooth 21 is split transversely, orA

at right angles to the line along which the back bar portions20a and 2 0?) are split, and one .of these back bar portions carries one of the split sect-ions ot' all of the teeth and the other back bar portion carries the other ,companion sections of the teeth. That is to say, the bar section 20ararries all ofthe tooth sections 21a, formi-ng one side'oi each tooth,

panion tooth sections 2lb which form the other sides of all of the teeth. K'Dhe upper edges of the projecting toothsections are cut square, as ind'icated'at 61, to engage under the opposite back bar portion. The device is assembled by bringing the ycon'ipanion tooth sections 21aand 2lb into proper matchlclips 65 where y the clip would be rigidly edges 64 -of the socket.` In assembling the ,device the matching sections of each tooth would be brou ht together over one of these held in the wedge vshaped socket against downward displacement from the cavity.

aThe upper. back bar portions .20c and 20d and the bar section 20])4 carries all ot' the eoming relation and then sliding them together,-

to bring the two ilpper bar sections together at their meetmg line. These upper bar sections may thenbe secured together in any` suitable manner such asby vulcaniziug, welding or pinning, depending upon the material employed. Wherethe device is composed of rubber, the tooth sections of all ot the teeth are then vulcanized together along their-vertical edges 25, 26, or where the device is composed4 of metal thcseedges'may be welded'together, or might be lapped. Figure l'illustrates one of the. teeth iu transverse section,

from which it will be seen that a slight space is left between the .lower portionsl of. the companion sections of each tooth for accommodating the tooth bristles 22. These bristles may be secured directly to one of the sec tionsof each 4tooth,or a mounting clip carrying the bristles maybe secured thereto, be-

fore the tooth sections' are assembled, such allording anv easy method of ii'\ )1i1it.ix1g the brlstles. 'Ihe aforesaid spaeebetween the lower portionsl ofthe tooth sections alfords the cavity 28 in the lower end oi each tooth, which permits :the bristles to'tlex in their movement over the scalp. l

In. Figures 16l and 17 I'have illustrated a construction whereinboth the baclt bar portion and all of :the bristle carrying teeth are .split on a longitudinal"dividing line.y Onelse .half of the bristle cavity 28 -is formed in the left-hand tooth section 210, and theother half of the cavity is formed in the right-hand tooth-section 21d. lrVhere a clip mounting of the bristles is to be utilized, the upper poreo tion of each cavity or recess may be cut back at an angle, as indicated at 64, to form a wedge shaped socket inthe upper end of the cavity. The mounting clip 65 would then bc formed with correspondingly sloping side 05 walls adapted to engage with the sloping `openings 51 or 52 may be em-A sov forni of cleaning brush which may be provided for cleaning the device. It comprises a frame built upl of sidevmembers 67 and end members 68. xtending. between the side members are a series of twisted wires 69 having bristles 71 fastened between the pairs of twisted wires, the spacing between these twisted wire bristles correspondingV to the spacing between the bristle. bearing teeth of the brush-comb. By moving these twisted wire cleaning bristles across the lower ends y of thefcomb' teeth and' up into the cavities in 'as the 'teeth and into the spaces between theteeth the entire brush-comb can be quickly and easily cleaned. Another provision for- Y cleaning the device may be effected by mounting the tooth bristles in mountin clips, such as I have above described, an arranging these clps in the comb teeth so that theycan be removed therefrom for the .purpose of cleaning the bristles and also cleaning out the cavities 28.

The -tooth bristles-22 havea minimum degree of Contact with the main body' of the' 'roc y hair and hence, although these bristles uniformly distribute lthe natural oil over the v ,110

scalp they do not convey this oil to the main body of the hair. 'Thus, the present device avoids one of the objections'commonly raised tles are arranged in a single row in each comb tooth so that the teeth may be made'comparatively narrow, but they might be grouped-in several rows or may be arranged in tufts.

. i While I have shown what I regardto be the preferred 'embodiment vof lmy invention 4and the preferred manner of making the same,

.to brushing, viz., that of making the hail; `oily or greasy. Preferably these tooth brisnevertheless it will be .understood thatsuch are merely exem lary, and that 'numerous modifications an rearrangements,v` may' be made therein without departing from the broadspirit and scope of my invention.

1.'A brush-comb comprising comb teeth, .i

and'brush bristles anchored in and project- 'ing fromsaid comb teeth.

k 'comb teeth, and a row of bristles anchore in the lower 'end of each tooth extendingsubstantially in a line in the. direction of the width of the l tooth.

4. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth having recesses in the ends thereof, and brush bristles in said recesses.

5. A brush-comb com rising comb teeth having recesses therein e ongated in the direction of the width-of the teeth, and bristles secured iny said recesses and projecting from the ends of the teeth. Y

6. A brush-comb comprising'a plurality of comb teeth, each of said' comb teeth having a cavity in the lower end thereof elongated in the direction of the width of the tooth, and a plurality ofbristles mounted in each cavity in arow extending in the elongated dimension ofthe cavity, each cavitypermitting the bristles therein to flex laterally as the projecting endls of the bristles-pass over 'the hair orl sca p. l.

7. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth brush bristles projecting from the ends o said comb teeth, and supplementary bristles extelrliding into the vspaces between the comb teet 8. A'brush-comb comprising comb teeth brush bristlesprojecting from the ends of- 35. the comb teeth.

the comb teeth, and supplementary bristles extending downwardly Ain the spaces between 9. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth, brush bristles projecting from the'ends of the 15j. A brush-comb comprising a back barv portion, comb teethl extending therefrom.

bristles mounted in the lower ends of said comb teeth, and means securing said bristles in said teeth extending up into said back bar portion.

16. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth,

clips having bristles extending therefrom one of said clips being mounted in each o said comb teeth with the bristles pro'ecting from the teeth, and cooperatin shoul ers on cthe clips and on the comb teet for holding comb teeth, and supplementary bristles projectingI substantially transversely into the spaces between the comb teeth.

1Q. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth,

and bristles anchored in the teeth and projectlng laterally into the spaces between the teet 11. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth` having cavities in the ends thereof, bristles adapted to project from the ends of said teeth, and means in the upper vends of said cavities mounting said bristles ltherein to have their ends project beyond the ends' of the comb teeth.

Y said teeth having openings therein above their lower ends, for cleaning said bristles. 14'. A brush-comb comprising comb teeth having slotted openings in their lower ends and having recesses thereabove open at one side of each tooth, clips mounted in said recesses, and bristles carried by said clips extending down through saidslotted openings.,

Cil 

